WAKEFIELD (CBS) — She doesn’t like it, but since an insurance company laid her off in July, Mary Ann Taylor visits the state’s unemployment website every Sunday to file her claim for benefits. “There’s enough stress already being laid off and trying to find a job never mind, ‘Okay, am I going to get through, will I get my check this week?’”

She was left wondering yesterday– when the website wouldn’t let her in. “It is a weekly must. You do have a week to do it, so maybe it being down on a Sunday shouldn’t be a panic situation, but it is frustrating.”

“This is the second time in about a month that the website has been offline on Sunday during the recommended filing hours. It’s a disgrace.”

In Watertown, Gertruda wondered, “Is their system down AGAIN!?!”

So WBZ called the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and a spokesperson said it was a firewall problem that caused the trouble Sunday. She also said it’s the third Sunday since late August that the system has failed. “We are currently working on upgrading the hardware infrastructure… and the outcome will be improved performance, capacity, and reliability,” said Alison Harris.

The website points out Sundays are busy because it’s the first opportunity to file — the sooner the filing, the sooner the check.

The unemployment claims site typically handles 130,000 claims on a Sunday. Roughly 99,000 got through yesterday.

One Comment

Calling is even more frustrating. At least online you don’t have to listen to the same recording over and over while you wait. Here’s a crazy idea, hire some unemployed people to answer the phones and upgrade the website.

People are unemployed.
The phones never get answered.
Hire the unemployed to answer the phones.
They would no longer be unemployed.
The phones would be answered.
Sorry Matt: You’ll never go anywhere with that.It makes too much sense.

Bugaboo creek losing 450 jobs in th state, GE needs 25 million form Us not to do some layoffs. Tyco in Lowell 100 jobs to NH, Evergreen solar at devens considering going to China, and the Gov’s top issue..In state tuition for illegals..enjoy your layoffs folks we are moving in the right direction!!!